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SKETCHES OF COURT: Motor vehicle trial, or my wives’ birthdays

SKETCHES OF COURT: Motor vehicle trial, or my wives’ birthdays

Courtroom sketch by Alba Acevedo depicting a direct examination

By Alba Acevedo

Brooklyn Daily Eagle

In this courtroom sketch, Hon. Debra Silber listens as attorney Todd Restivo (standing) of the law firm Restivo & Murphy LLP conducts a direct examination of the plaintiff in the motor vehicle trial of Wu Zheng v. Robert Visciano that took place last week in Kings County Civil Term. Court interpreter Mirenda Chin (far left) is translating English to Mandarin for Zheng.

At the time of the March 2010 accident and as coincidence would have it, both parties were returning from errands related to the scheduled celebrations of their wives’ birthdays later the same day. The plaintiff (returning home with party catering) alleged that the defendant (returning home with new haircut) ran the stop sign at the intersection of Rhett Ave. and Margaret St. in Staten Island. Both birthday celebrations were postponed.

The defendant claimed he did not run the stop sign, and that the plaintiff’s car approached the intersection at a speed over 50mph and hit his stopped vehicle. The hard impact deployed plaintiff’s vehicle’s airbag, and the plaintiff was removed from the scene by ambulance with injuries to his cervical and lumbar spine and right shoulder. The 31-year old plaintiff had been working as a cook.

The jury returned a verdict in the liability phase of the bifurcated trial, finding the defendant 100% at fault. Plaintiff’s attorney is suing for past and future pain and suffering, as well as future medical expenses. The defendant is represented by Jesse Safer (seated, right) of the law office of James G. Bilello & Associates. The damages phase of the trial continues this week.